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I understand that Operation Youth Advantage is one of several schemes by which Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police engage young people in their force areas. Other Scottish police forces do so in other ways. These are matters for individual forces.

The title reflects the consensus which emerged from those who responded on this matter to the Scottish Natural Heritage consultation. That consensus favoured the use of "Cairngorms" in the title of the National Park, to differentiate between the single peak and the mountain range. The issue of the title of the park was not one highlighted by the Rural Development Committee in its letter to me of 14 October conveying the views of the committee following its evidence-taking sessions.

The Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS) represents a major change from the current Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (both of which operate across Great Britain). Development of information systems to support SFGS is a significant task and, to ensure that the systems are properly developed and tested, the Forestry Commission has recently announced that applications for SFGS will not be accepted until June 2003, after which the scheme should be fully operational. This represents a two-month delay to the original target date of April 2003, but the existing grant schemes are being kept open for an additional two months to minimise any inconvenience to the industry. The necessary changes to the Scottish Rural Development Plan have been approved by the EU STAR (Agricultural Structures and Rural Development Committee), as announced on 19 November.

I understand that Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd intends to publish detailed information on missed sailings and late arrivals on its website at www.northlinkferries.co.uk, and I refer the member to that site for regular performance information. I expect to receive a monthly report from the company, in terms of our agreement with them, within six weeks of the end of the month concerned.

We have no current plans to do so. At present, employers generally have the option but not the legal obligation to ask the police to investigate suspected crimes on their premises. There are some limited statutory exceptions to this. For example, where employers suspect that money laundering may be taking place, then steps must be taken to bring this to the attention of supervising authorities.Regardless of the attitude of public agencies, there is nothing to prevent an employee or any other person making a complaint about a suspected criminal offence to a professional body, the police or the procurator fiscal. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provides protection for individuals who make certain disclosures of information in the public interest. This includes the disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of the worker making the disclosure, tends to show inter alia that a criminal offence has been committed, is being committed or is likely to be committed.Nevertheless I will consider the specific examples raised in correspondence from the member and respond to him.

The Chief Medical Officer issued guidance to health professionals on 19 November 2002, which included advice on the care of patients who may have suffered a bite or an abrasion from a bat. It also confirmed that bats do not pose a serious risk to the general public or to pets and domestic animals. Bats are naturally timid and at this time are hibernating. The risk to the public is minimal unless they handle bats. Almost all bat-handling licences have been withdrawn by Scottish Natural Heritage.

The Scottish Executive does acknowledge the importance of milk as part of a balanced diet. An adequate calcium intake is essential for the formation of healthy bones, particularly in childhood, and dairy products, including milk, are a good source of calcium for children. Recognising the important part that milk can play, £380,000 a year is provided through the Health Improvement Fund as a top-up to the EC School Milk Subsidy Scheme to support the provision of milk in primary schools.In their interim report, the Expert Panel on School Meals devised Nutrient Standards for school lunches based on five food groups. They advised that school lunches should have at least one portion of food from the milk and dairy products group (which includes milk, cheese, yoghurt and milk-based deserts) and that milk as a drink should be available as an option at lunch time each day.There are also strong links between osteoporosis and physical activity and these have been considered as part of the work of the Physical Activity Task Force. The task force's draft report contains activity targets for children that are designed to promote good health.While many authorities provide free milk to some or all pupils, the decision on whether to do so is a matter for individual authorities. No data on an individual authority's policy is available centrally.

In addition to the recently completed £233,700 footway in Duror, the final section of footway at the War Memorial is currently being discussed with Highland Council and once agreement is reached this section will be programmed for implementation.The double white line system through Duror is due to be refurbished within the next few weeks and improvements to the visibility at Achindarroch junction are being investigated.Speed surveys are being undertaken at two locations within Duror and will be used to re-assess the need for a speed limit.Officials have contacted the Duror and Kentallen Community Council and a meeting will be arranged with them shortly to discuss these and other issues.

The Scottish Executive will continue to press the European Commission to allow further simplification of the subsidy schemes on such things as form filling, proportionality of penalties, inspection procedures and detailed scheme rules.

The Scottish Executive's participation in the EU policy-making process is subject to the Concordat on the co-ordination of EU policy issues, which includes explicit provisions on the confidentiality of discussions.